Ercan Aktuna

Ercan Aktuna — Biography

Recep Ercan Aktuna was born on 26 June 1940 in Istanbul. He started his football career at İstanbulspor in 1957, but it was his many years as a defender for Fenerbahçe that made his name; fans nicknamed him "Maldini Ercan" because his style of play was often compared to that of the Italian footballer Cesare Maldini.

After hanging up his boots, Aktuna stayed involved in the game as a coach and club administrator, and also worked as a football columnist. He died in Istanbul on 20 September 2013, and his passing was widely mourned across Turkish football, particularly within the Fenerbahçe community, with former teammates and fans turning out for his funeral.